REPORTS that Sir Ian Botham is in the running to become the new Durham chairman take us back 25 years.

As they prepared for their first-class baptism rumours were rife that Durham wanted Botham as the figurehead. Chairman Don Robson repeatedly played down those rumours, but Beey's signing was common knowledge long before it was announced.

Now it seems that some of those ECB bigwigs who on Monday inflicted their savage punishment on Durham believe Botham is again the man to act as a figurehead.

In the sense that it partially worked in 1992, when the world's greatest all-rounder helped to generate huge interest, it could work again.

Given his outspoken nature, Botham would not be everyone's idea of the ideal figure to lead Durham's renaissance. But if he is prepared to devote time to the cause his mere presence would inspire players and investors.

He has indicated the task appeals to him, telling Sky Sports News: “I'm very pleased to be involved. What we are looking at is to rescue a wonderful place and a wonderful team. There's a lot of good young players coming through the system. You only have to look at what they have achieved below the first team. It's been exceptional at all levels.

“It was a privilege for me to play in the first Durham side. If I can help in any way it will be very pleasing.”

Botham will be 61 next month. Just as he was in the twilight of his playing career when he joined Durham, he may now want to curtail his commentating and spend more time at his home near Scotch Corner.

“The North-East is where I live and it deserves to have a first-class cricket team,” he said.

He would certainly be a very different chairman from Don Robson, under whom he found the club was run on socialist principles which were not to his taste.

In his 1994 autobiography, Botham wrote: “The decision to leave Worcestershire to spend the last two years of my career at Durham was one of the worst mistakes I ever made.”

He also felt Geoff Cook, the Director of Cricket, was too steeped in socialism, observing: “If he had had his way we would have stood up before the start of each match and belted out a couple of choruses of The Red Flag.”

Then came the revelation that just before his retirement he had a phone call from director Mattie Roseberry saying that a number of influential figures wanted Robson out.

“He asked me if I was prepared to be the figurehead of their campaign. I didn't bother to ring back. I felt sorry for the players, but if I needed any further persuasion that the time had come to get out, this was it.”

Much water has flowed down the Wear since then. For the best part of a decade Durham became the most successful team in the country.

But they will start next season even further adrift at the bottom than in those early years. If one of the game's most charismatic characters can help to refloat them he will want to be at the helm.

He expected to be captain in 1992 and is unlikely to accept any minion's role now.